Mail box



March 18 1924. 1,487,372

R. COBEL MAIL BOX Filed March 5l 1923 2 SheetS-Sheet l WITNESS:

Maich 18 i924. 1,487,372

l l R. coBEL MAIL BOX Flyed March 31 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tyy 4 2) 1?(94- Hay Cob@ INVENToR WITNESS: ATTORNEY Patented Mar.l 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES RAY ooBEL, or NEWARK, oHIo.

MAIL BOX.

Application filed March 31, 1923. Serial No. 629,059.

To all whom t may concern."

Be it known that I, RAY COBEL, a citizen of t-he United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Licking andState of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to mail boxes, and.

contemplates a structure wherein the box is mounted for rotation upon a suitable support and provided with a longitudinal opening through which mail matter is deposited in the box' and removed therefrom, the opening of the box being closed by the su'pport with the slot arranged normally in confronting relation to the latter.

One of the chief characteristics of this invention resides in the specific manner for mounting the box, whereby the latter after being turned to move the opening away from the support, and subsequently released, allows the box to gravitate to its normal position.

.More specifically stated, the invention provides one of the pivots for the box with a spiral groove which receives a lug forming part of one of the brackets upon which the box is mounted, so that after the box has been turned in one direction and subsequently released, the said box will antomatically rotate in a reverse direction to its normal position, in which the opening of the box is closed by the support therefor.

The nat-ure and advantage of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this' application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in elevation showing the box turned to position the slot whereby access may be had to the box.

Figure Q is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the support with the receptacle removed.

Figure 11 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the box.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the closure cap and its associated parts.

Referring to the drawings in detail of the receptacle.

indicates a mail box. above referred to which is preferably of cylindrical formation and constructed of glass or any other transparent material, it being understood that the box or receptacle can vary in size without departing from the spirit of the invention.

This receptacle is mounted upon a suitable support for partial rotation in either direction, the support being indicated at 11 and in the nature of an elongated member as shown. Fixed to this support 11 and suitably spaced apart are brackets 12 each having an opening 13, while projecting from the edge of the opening of one bracket is a lug 14 for a purpose Ato be hereinafter described. The box or receptacle is open at one end which is reducedl and threaded as at 15, this end of the receptacle being closed by a cap or the like 16 as shown. Projected from the top of the receptacle is a trunnion 17 adapted to be received by the opening of the `adjacent bracket 12, while depending from the cap 16 is a trunnion 18 received by the opening in the adjacent bracket.r The trunnion 18 is formed with a kspiral groove 19 which receives the lug 14: above referred to, so that after the receptacle or box has been turned in one direction, and then released, the box or receptacle gravitates to normal position, by turning in an opposite direction. It will be noted that the box or receptacle is provided with a longitudinal opening 20 of suitable dimensions to permit mail matter to be easily introduced into the receptacle or removed therefrom as desired, and in the normal position of the receptacle, this opening is closed by the supporting member 11. This' is due to the fact that the opening 20 is arranged in confront-ing relation to the supporting member 11, an ar rangement which prevents rain, snow or the like from gaining access to the interior Being self closing the receptacle is very convenient for use, it being only necessary to turn the receptacle partly in one direction to arrange the opening 2O in advance of the user so that access may be had to the box and when the latter is released, it automatically rotates in an opposite direction for the purpose above stated.

The receptacle or box can be turned in a particular direction by means of a lever 21 which projects from the cap 16, the lever being associated with the adjacent trunnion 18 and also formed with a stop lug 22 which constitutes the other end of this lever. The stop lug is disposed to engage the adjacent bracket 12 to limit the closing movement of the receptacle under its own weight as above stated.

Arranged upon the support 1l and positioned above the mail box proper is a spring clip or the like indicated at 2&1-, and Abetween which and the support- 11 is adapted to be arranged papers or other mail matter that. cannot be conveniently or otherwise positioned in the mail box proper.

While it is believed that from the ,foregoing description, the nature `and advan-V tages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as tall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, VI claim:

l. In combination, a supporting member, a cylindrical receptacle mounted upon the support for partial rotation in either direction and having a longitudinal slot, said receptacle being normally disposed to-position theslot in confronting relation to the support, means for turning the receptacle, and means to limit the turning movement of the receptacle in one direction as and for the purpose specilied.

2. In combination, a support, a transparent cylindrical receptacle mounted upon the support for partial rotation in either direction, said receptacle having a longitudinal slot normally arranged in confronting rela tion to the support, means for turning the receptacle in one direction, and means for causing said receptacle to gravit-ate to normal position when released.

3. In combination, a support, a receptacle mounted for rotation on the support and having a longitudinal slot, normally arrangedin confronting relation to the support, means for turning the receptacle in one direction to present the slot for use, means whereby the receptacle subsequently gravitates to its normal position, Aand means for limitingthe movement of the receptacle in the latter mentioned direction.

4. In combination, a support, brackets mounted thereon, a receptacle arranged between the brackets for partial rotation in either direction, trunnions projecting above and below the receptacle and received by said brackets, said receptacle having a longitudinal opening normally arranged in confronting relation to the support, means for turning the receptacle in one direction to present the slot Jfor use, one of said trunnions having a spiral groove and a lug forming part of one of the brackets and received by said groove whereby the receptacle gravitates to its normal position when released.

RAY ooBnn 

